Silicon Extraction from Recycled Solar Cells

In this study "Recovery of complete crystalline silicon cells from waste photovoltaic modules," a new process combining organic solvent method and thermal treatment is provided with the main objective efficient recovery intact cells. Pre-heating ultrasonic-assisted toluene dissolution EVA adhesive film are used to strip fluorine-containing backsheets, which centrally processed reused achieve environmental protection resource reuse. The then thermally degraded obtain cell. Finally, Ag Al were efficiently recovered by chemical methods. optimized has advantages high integrity rate recycled cells, low recycling cost pollution.

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A method for recycling photovoltaic modules by using a wet purification process to extract silicon from the module structure. The process involves sequential alkali cleaning, pickling, and drying steps to remove contaminants and silicon residue from the module's backplate, glass, and frame. The silicon is then extracted through the wet purification process, which uses a combination of alkali and acid solutions to dissolve and separate the silicon from other impurities. The extracted silicon is then purified further through multiple rinses and drying steps before being processed into high-purity silicon.

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A novel method for efficient and environmentally friendly silicon and silver recycling from waste solar panels. The process utilizes a molten alkali leaching method to selectively extract and recover silicon and silver from the solar panel's metallurgical-grade silicon (MG-Si) and metallurgical-grade silicon (MG-Si) wafers, respectively. The recovery process involves a controlled temperature and salt composition in the molten salt, enabling rapid separation of the target materials from the remaining photovoltaic material. The method achieves higher purity silicon and silver recoveries compared to conventional recycling methods, with a simplified preparation process and lower environmental impact.

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A novel method for efficient and environmentally friendly silicon recycling from solar cells. The process involves a two-stage treatment sequence: first, the solar cells are soaked in a sodium hydroxide solution to remove surface layers, followed by a mixed acid treatment of nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid. This sequential approach enables the recovery of both silicon and valuable metals while minimizing waste generation. The method achieves high silicon recovery rates, especially for silicon-containing solar cells, and presents a practical alternative to traditional acid-based recycling methods.

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A recycling method for photovoltaic modules that achieves high-quality silicon recovery through controlled laser cleaning and etching. The method employs laser cleaning to remove glass and chip residue, followed by sequential etching steps to remove the silicon wafer and aluminum back electrode. The laser cleaning process uses different power settings to prevent chip damage while ensuring complete separation of the components. The etching process employs controlled etching parameters to remove the remaining aluminum and silver electrodes. This approach enables the selective recovery of high-quality silicon wafers while preserving the integrity of the glass plates.

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A novel method for producing high-purity silicon from solar waste by selectively leaching metals from silicon waste using a controlled acid dissolution process. The method involves crushing solar cells, followed by a multi-stage acid leaching process where specific metals like aluminum, silver, tellurium, barium, lead, bismuth, vanadium, zinc, strontium, calcium, and iron are selectively dissolved from the silicon. The leaching process is optimized for each metal type using different acid concentrations and leaching times, followed by solid-liquid separation and purification steps. The resulting purified silicon can be further processed to achieve even higher purity levels.

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A method for recycling photovoltaic modules that enables complete recovery of aluminum, silver, and silicon wafers while maintaining their photovoltaic properties. The recycling process involves a two-step approach: first, dismantling and heat treatment of the module to separate the battery sheet and other components, followed by confinement heat treatment of the battery sheet to achieve a uniform temperature across the entire sheet. This step preserves the structural integrity of the aluminum frame, junction box, and tempered glass while achieving a uniform temperature across the entire sheet. The confinement heat treatment process is optimized to preserve the silicon-aluminum alloy layer and its microstructure. The resulting silicon wafers are then texturized to create a nano-textured surface with unique properties that enhance light absorption and reflectivity.

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A method for efficiently extracting high-purity silicon from waste solar panels using a novel acid-leaching process. The process involves crushing the solar cells, followed by sequential acid leaching steps using nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. The acid leaching process selectively targets and separates impurities from the silicon, resulting in a high-purity silicon product. The method achieves a purity of 99.9% or higher, making it suitable for direct use as raw material for silicon carbide production.

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A solar cell chip recycling device that enables efficient recovery of valuable materials from solar panels while minimizing environmental impact. The device comprises a conveying system with sequential collection of acid-base waste liquids, including hydrochloric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and nitric acid, which are then processed in a controlled environment. The system incorporates a series of tanks with integrated cleaning systems, including a reaction tank positioned between the acid collection tanks, which enables the recovery of valuable silicon material. The device utilizes a unique flow system with a fixed frame for the tanks, allowing for precise control over the recycling process.

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A method for efficient silicon recovery from photovoltaic modules through selective separation of silicon from glass and other components. The process involves using high-frequency oscillation (HFO) to separate silicon from the grading material in the photovoltaic cell, while maintaining the glass and other components intact. This approach ensures precise control over the silicon content in the final product, enabling more accurate separation of silicon from other materials.

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A recycling process for solar panels that leverages silicon extraction and chemical processing to create valuable materials. The process involves extracting silicon from the panel through a wafer extraction step, followed by heat treatment to remove glass and backsheet components. Silicon powder is then processed to produce micro- and nano-sized particles through ball milling, which are then chemically etched to remove metal impurities. The resulting silicon powder is then converted into a high-quality silicon nitride through nitridation. The process enables the recovery of valuable silicon components while producing a valuable silicon nitride product.

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A process for recovering valuable metals and silicon from silicon solar cells. The method involves a multi-step approach that selectively removes and recovers silicon, metals, and other components from solar cells, achieving a 90% recovery rate. The process employs a combination of chemical and mechanical separation techniques to extract silicon, metals, and other valuable materials from the solar cells, with the silicon recovered as a feedstock for photovoltaic applications.

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A method for recycling silicon solar cells through a process that enables environmentally friendly processing of the generated waste. The method involves converting the solar cell waste into a liquid solution that can be safely disposed of without causing environmental harm. This process eliminates the need for destructive incineration, which is typically associated with traditional solar cell disposal methods. The resulting liquid solution contains valuable materials like silicon, metals, and other recyclable materials that can be extracted and reused in the production of new solar cells.

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A method for recycling silicon from the photovoltaic industry chain that enables the production of high-purity silicon for solar panels. The process involves a series of purification steps, including ultrasonic cleaning, vacuum degassing, and classification, to achieve the desired solar-grade silicon quality. The method addresses the conventional problem of silicon doping contamination during the recycling process by implementing a dedicated cleaning and purification sequence that removes impurities while maintaining the integrity of the silicon material.

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A solar silicon waste recycling method for silicon-based materials, particularly for photovoltaic applications. The process involves recycling silicon waste slurry through a multi-step filtration and processing sequence to separate silicon carbide, iron slag, and polyethylene glycol. The silicon carbide is then converted into high-purity silicon powder, which is used to produce agricultural liquid silicon fertilizer. This closed-loop system enables the efficient recovery of valuable silicon components from waste silicon slurry, replacing the traditional disposal of silicon waste and achieving a significant reduction in environmental impact.

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A solar cell environmental recovery system that enables the recycling of silicon solar cell components while maintaining their high-quality output. The system comprises a solar cell, an aluminum removal system connected in series with the solar cell, a silver system, a silver powder reduction system, and a silicon recovery system. The system incorporates detection and monitoring capabilities to ensure the recovery process meets stringent quality standards.

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A method for recycling silicon and silicon-containing components from solar modules and cells through a single-step process that preserves the high-quality silicon content. The process involves thermal separation of the solar cell material, followed by a precise separation of glass and cell fracture, and then a selective removal of the silicon fraction. The separation of glass and cell fracture is achieved through an optical sorting technique, while the silicon fraction is purified through a combination of mechanical grinding and selective leaching. This approach enables the recovery of all silicon components from solar module waste, including trace metals, without the need for multiple processing steps or specialized equipment.

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A method for recycling crystalline silicon solar panels through a comprehensive dismantling process that extracts valuable materials from the frame, glass, silicon wafers, aluminum, silver, and copper components. The recycling process involves mechanical separation of the components, followed by chemical processing to extract the valuable materials. This approach enables the recovery of critical components like silicon, aluminum, silver, and copper while minimizing waste generation.

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A method for recovering valuable materials from solar cells through a novel process that separates the primary metal constituent from the semiconductor material. The method involves mixing the solar cell with a solid solution containing the primary metal, followed by centrifugation and heating to separate the metal from the semiconductor. The separated metal can then undergo refining processes, including electrolysis and electrochemical processing, to achieve high-purity metal recovery.

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As photovoltaic (PV) installations expand globally, effective recycling of end-of-life crystalline silicon solar cells has become increasingly important, including the recovery valuable metals such as silver (Ag) and aluminium (Al). Traditional nitric acid-based chemical leaching methods, although effective, present environmental challenges due to generation hazardous nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. To address these concerns, this study investigated alternative hydrometallurgical strategies. Two selective treatments (NaOH for Al, NH3 + H2O2 Ag) one simultaneous treatment (HNO3 H2O2) were evaluated metal efficiency. All methods demonstrated high efficiencies, achieving at least 99% both within 60 min. The effectively suppressed NOx emissions without compromising These findings confirm that techniques incorporating hydrogen peroxide can achieve efficient environmentally safer from cells, providing insights into development more sustainable practices waste management.

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